Message Outline

1. Jesus' REVELATION to Smyrna (v.8)
2. Jesus' COMMENDATION of Smyrna (v.9-10)
3. Jesus' MOTIVATION to Smyrna (v.11)

1.1 - Smyrna, only 40 miles north of Ephesus, was a notable city in the ancient world

This was a large, beautiful, and proud city. It was a center of learning and culture, and was proud of its standing as a city.

“Smyrna was an outstandingly beautiful city. It claimed to be the ‘Glory of Asia...Smyrna was a great trade city . . . Smyrna stood at the end of the road which served the valley of the river Hermus, and all the trade of that valley flowed into its markets and found an outlet through its harbor. It had a specially rich trade in wines. Smyrna, like Ephesus, was a city of wealth and commercial greatness.” - Barclay

1.2 - Smyrna was a leading city in the Roman cult of Emperor worship

On one famous street in Smyrna, called the “Golden Street,” stood magnificent temples to Cybele, Apollo, Asklepios, Aphrodite, and a great temple to Zeus – but the worship of those pagan gods was dying out. The real focus was on the worship of the Emperor of Rome. The Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96AD) was the first to demand worship under the title “Lord” from the people of the Roman Empire as a test of political loyalty.

1.3 - In 23AD Smyrna built the first temple to worship the Emperor Tiberius Caesar

They had won this "privilege" over 11 other competing cities. The cult of Emperor worship was deeply entrenched in this ancient city.

“Emperor worship had begin as spontaneous demonstration of gratitude to Rome; but toward the end of the first century, in the days of Domitian, the final step was taken and Caesar worship became compulsory. Once a year the Roman citizen must burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty...All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not conform.” - Barclay

1.4 - "These things says the First and the Last.."

Jesus chose this title from His appearance to John (Rev 1:11, 1:17) to speak of His eternal character. The First and the Last are titles that belong only to the Lord, Yahweh, according to Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12.

1.5 - "..who was dead, and came to life.."

Jesus chose this title (Rev 1:18) to remind the Christians in Smyrna that they served the risen Lord, victorious over death. Death could not hold Jesus, and it cannot hold His people. The association with death – and the victory of resurrection – is throughout this letter. The name "Smyrna" ('bitter) comes from the word "myrrh", a sweet-smelling perfume, which was used in the embalming dead bodies. Myrrh was released by the crushing of a certain root. Through persecution and the warfare of the enemy, these Christians were being crushed. Yet Jesus was with them, He warned them, and comforted them in their suffering.

THE MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP, PASTOR OF SMYRNA: (Letter from 156AD) As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’” Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said,“Down with the Atheists!” “Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. “It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness.” “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.” It was all done in the time it takes to tell. The crowd collected wood and bundles of sticks from the shops and public baths. When the pile was ready, they went to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails.” So they simply tied him with his hands behind him like a ram chosen for sacrifice. He was then burned alive and pierced with a sword until dead. This is the story of the blessed Polycarp, the pastor and twelfth martyr in Smyrna.

2.1 - "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)"

Smyrna was financially a prosperous city, yet the Christians there were very poor. The Christians of Smyrna knew poverty because they were robbed and fired from jobs in persecution for the gospel. This kind of economic persecution was one important reason why Christians were poor in Smyrna. Even today, this is a common form of persecution against Christians.

“They were not simply poor. The word used here for ‘poverty’ is the word for abject poverty.” - Walvoord

2.2 - "..and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."

Historically, we know that there were Jews in this city that were very antagonistic to the Christian church there.

Notice, satan has his very own church. The NT also teaches he has his own ministers (2Cor 11:13-15), his own gospel (Gal 1:6-9), his own spirit (2Cor 11:4), and his own kingdom (Eph 6:12). All religious institutions (including Atheistic and Humanistic) not rooted in Christ, are guided and used by satan as outposts of his kingdom! (Read Ephesians 6:10-20)

2.3 - "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days."

Jesus let them know in advance that they were going to suffer....and He's done the same for us:

John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Matt 10:21-22 - "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."

Notice that it's the DEVIL that is causing the persecution of the believers.

Biblical History: Cain..Haman..Herod.. ---> It's satan!
Modern History: Stalin..Mao Tse Tong..Hitler..Iran..ISIS ---> It's satan!
Rev 12:3 - "And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born." (Daniel 10)

Notice that this TRIAL was allowed as a TEST.
Satan tests/tempts us that we will FAIL. The Lord tests us so too, so that we will PASS & GROW! (Gen 22:1)

"Ten days" may very well refer to the 10 Roman Emperors that would ravage the church with 10 ruthless persecutions, before Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine in the Edict of Toleration (311AD) and the Edict of Milan (313AD).

2.4 - Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

We must take our suffering, our pain, our losses, our discomforts, our trials...we must take them all and view them in the light of ETERNITY! We must take them all and view them under the bright shining light of HEAVEN to see them correctly. Only if we do this will we have the right perspective; only if we do this, will we not lose heart; only if we do this will it make any sense to us! View it in light of ETERNITY and the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!

Heb 11:35-38 NLT - "..But others were tortured...36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destituteand oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground."

Heb 11:13-16 NLT - "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Heb 11:26 NLT - "He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward."

Rom 8:16-18 - "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Heb 10:34 NLT - "You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever."

2.4.1 - His Heaven is the answer to your Hell

God's Plan eternally can help in your Pain presently; your presentTribulation, can be eased by Heaven's Kingdom! (110 chapters ---> 1/8 prophecies ---> Rev. 96ADChristians)

3.1 - FOR THE CHRISTIAN

Though believers may face physical death at the hands of their persecutors, once they are received into the Kingdom of Heaven, their suffering and pain will be at an end, once and for all. Since they were born twice, they will die only once.

3.2 - FOR THE NON-CHRISTIAN

Their enemies and persecutors, however, who were born only once will dies twice. They will face what is called the "second death" by Jesus. This is the second SEPARATION that the unbeliever will experience. The first is a physical death (Heb 9:27), but the second is a spiritual death - an eternal separation from their Creator!

Rev 20:14 - "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

Rev 20:6 - "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

"It Is Well With My Soul" (Horatio Spafford, 1873)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.